Fire-escape.



J. E. ANDREWS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 23, 1909.

939,375, Patented Nov. 9, 1909.

mar s rill. FFQE.

JAMES E. ANDREWS, OF LA CEOSSE, KANSAS.

FIRE-ESCAPE Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 9, 1969.

Application filed March 23, 1909. Serial No. 485,187.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. ANDREWS, a citizen of theUnited States, residing at La Crosse, in the county of Rush and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Fire-Escape, of which the following is a specification. I

This invention relates more particularly to portable fire escapes and is characterized by a casing containing a reel on which a line or cable is wound, said line or cable, on the outside of the casing passing over a pulley, which is supported from any suitable place on the building from which the escape is to be made. The casing carries a sling to support the person, and it is lowered by paying out the line or cable from the reel, the speed of descent being controlled by a suitable mechanism. I

The object of the present invention is to provide a fire escape of the kind stated which is simple in structure, and safe and reliable in operation.

The lnvention also has for its object to provide means for automatically returning the casing after its descent, in order that it may be again used by another person.

With the foregoing objects in view the invention consists in a novel construction and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the drawing hereto annexed forming a part of this specification, in which drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the casing showing the parts inclosed thereby. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 2 with parts broken away.

The casing in which the operating mechanism is inclosed is circular in shape, and comprises end walls 5 and 6 respectively provided each with a marginal flange 7 which are presented toward each other, and between which is received a partition 8 whereby the casing is divided into two compartments. On the flanges 7, and on the periphery of the partition 8, are ears 9 having alined perforations through which pass bolts 10, whereby said parts are rigidly secured together.

The herein described casing carries a pair of looped straps 11 into which the legs of the person using the device are placed. These straps depend from the lower end of the casing and are secured thereto by eyes 12.

This line From one face of the casing extends a looped strap 13 which passes around the back of the person and has its ends adjustably secured by a buckle 14 or other suitable device. This strap 13 is held in place on the casing by being passed through eyes 15 on the easing. To the looped straps 11 are secured one end of straps 16, said straps 16 being crossed and connected at their other ends to the strap 13, the connection with said strap 13 being made'at the back of the person.

The arrangement of straps herein described forms a sling in which the person using the device is supported comfortably and safely, and said swing can be quickly applied and removed.

One of the compartments of the casing contains a reel comprising a shaft 17 journaled in the Wall 5 and the partition 8, and on which shaft the line 18 is wound. passes from the casing through an eye 19, and on the outside of the casing extends over a pulley 20, and has its end made fast to an ear .21 on the casing. To the pulley 20 is connected a chain 22 carrying a hook 23.

The shaft 17 extends through the partition 8 into the compartment formed by said partition and the wall 6, and on this portion of the shaft is fast a pinion 24 which meshes with a spur wheel 25 mounted in the same compartment on a shaft 26 having its bearing in said partition 8 and the end wall 6. On the outside of the casing the shaft'26 is fitted with a crank handle 27, and within the compartment is a coiled spring 28 one end of which is made fast to the shaft 26, and its other end fastened to the wall of the casing. The spring 28 is coiled on the shaft 26 in such a direction that it will be wound up when the reel is unwinding.

In use, the device is hung up by means of the chain 22 and hook 23, and secured to the person by means of the straps 11, 13 and l6. The weight of the person pays out the line 18, and the casing therefore descends, its speed being controlled by means of the crank handle 27. The spring 28 is wound up when the casing is descending as already described, so that when the person reaches the ground and disconnects the device from his body, the device will automatically return, thus enabling it to be used by another person.

l/Vhat is claimed is:

In a fire escape, a casing comprising end Walls provided each with marginal flanges presented toward each other, and having perforated ears, a partition between the outer ends of the flanges and forming compartments in the casing, said partition having perforated ears on its periphery fitting between the ears of the flanges, and fastening means passing through said ears, a reel mounted in one of the compartments, and having its shaft journaled, in the walls thereof and extending into the other compartment, a shaft journaled in the walls of the last mentioned compartment, a spur wheel on said shaft, a pinion on the reel shaft meshing with said spur wheel, a spring secured at one end to the spur wheel shaft and at the other end to the casing, a crank shaft on the spur wheel shaft, a line wound on the reel and passing out of the casing and fastened thereto, a pulley over which that portion of the line on the outside of the casing passes, suspension means for the pulley, and a sling carried by the casing.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

JAMES E. ANDREVS. \Vitnesses H. W. GRASS, L. K. Earn. 

